Revolving automatic electric time switch



Aug.`27, 1929. H. o. BROWN 1,726,174

REVOLVING AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH Filed 061'.. 24, 1925 Patented Aug. 27,1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY 0. BROWN, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA'.

BEVOLVING AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

Application led Qctober 24, 1923. Serial No. 670,610.

This invention relates to improvements in time switches, and more particularly to revolving automatic electric time switches, and has for an object to connect the current for all uses.

Another object is to automatically disconneet the current when not needed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ot parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing an adaptation of the device.

In the drawings, a base plate 1 is provided at suitable distances apart with the standards or bearing blocks 2 which support the shaft 4 carrying a cylinder 3; to maintain the shaft 4 in the bearing blocks 2 a frame is provided comprising the end posts 5 expanded to provide feet at the lower ends and connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 6 having a vertical slot 6 therethrough, said slot extending beyond the planes of the ends ot' the cylinders, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The cylinder 3 and the frame work are made of indurated fiber, lignum vitae or other non-conducting material to prevent grounding.

The cylinder, which in the present embodiment is about three inches long is surrounded or overlaid with a sheet of thin brass 3i" and encasing the fiber cylinder about two and one-half inches of its length, leaving one end ot the fiber cylinder exposed providing what may be termed a neutral zone 7.

On one end of shaft 4 is provided the indicator 8 to which is connected a lever 11 used for returning the machine to the desired time to begin operating, the numeral 12 indicating the fixed brush rigidly attached to the base and contacting at its free end with the brass sleeve 3H.

The brass sleeve is provided with a num ber of openings 13 distributed circumferentially in han@ or zones around the sleeve and in staggered relation from end to end of the sleeve, the arrangement being such that they constitute circuit breaking openings of the required size, tor various periods of time corresponding to calibrations on the slotted cross piece 6.

In the slot Gf is placed the adjustable brush 9 suitably insulated, and which can be moved in said slot in the top cross piece to any of the time calibrations desired, so that it rests upon any desired band or zone of openings in the brass sleeve, or it can be moved toward one end of the cylinder which is uncovered by the brass sleeve and rest upon such uncovered part or neutral zone 7.

-The machine may have attached as at the left hand end an electric motor 20, for causing the switch cylinder to be continually revolving. This motor is suitably connected up with a source of electrical energy by means ot conductors 21 and a switch 22, so that the device may operate as desired.

The movable contact or brush 9 through suitable conductors 23 and switch 2li, makes the connection of the current with the use desired, such tor example, as heating, the stationary brush 12 completing the circuit ot' the current.

When the movable brush or contact 9 is moved in the slot 6a to the desired time calibration, the device is set in motion and transmits the current to the desired instrument 26 until said brush 9 reaches an opening (13) in the brass sleeve 3fL into which it drops thus acting to break the circuit and thus stops the current from the battery 27.

The neutral zone 7 which is not covered by the brass sleeve 3L serves tor adjusting the device by removing the movable brush 9 from any particular band or zone on said sleeve to said Zone 7 and rests thereon while the indicator 8 is being operated to return the cylinder' to neutral.

After adjusting the device to neutral by means of the lever which is attached to the center of the axles of the device, the adjustable brush 9 may be placed on the desired time calibration and the device will transmit the current for the desired period of time.

The device is controlled by a gear attached to the motor by means of a ratchet connection which makes it easy to adjust. It can be operated by means of a pulley attached to the motor.

To transmit the current one wire is extended to the motor and one is attached to the machine. From the motor and the device the Wires are connected up with the instrument Where the current is desired, and completes the circuit.

The zone 7 Which is not covered by. the brassY sleeve 8, is used for adjusting the de vice, by moving the brush 9 away from the various zones on the sleeve to s aid space 7 While the lever ll is being operated to return the cylinder to neutral Without setting the device in motion. After adjusting the de vice to neutral by means ofthelever which is attached to the center of the axles of the device,'the adjustable brush may be placed upon the desired time calibration von the top cross piece V6, and particular Zone on sleeve 3a; and the device ivill transmit the current for the desired time, the brush 9 being lifted from the openings 13, by the rotation of the sleeve and cylinder, or by hand as preferred. The device can be used for any purpose or use Where the electric current is needed, and can be operated on either an A. C. or D. C. current.

Having thus described my invention, what l. In an electric time switch, the combination With a frame comprising a base board,

spaced apart vertical standards on said ase,

yand a slotted top cross piece connecting said ,standards and calibrated to indicate time periods, -a shaft rotatably mounted in said standards, said shaft adapted to be driven by an electric motor, a horizontal cylinder' ofadapted to drop into said circumferentially arranged openings to break the circuit, a stationary brush mounted on said frame and in continuous contact with said sleeve, conductor means connecting said brushes With a source of electricity and a current consumingdevice, and means for rotating said cylinder to cause said circuit to be respectively "opened and closed through the coaction of the movable brush and the openings in said sleeve With the non-conductive cylinder.

2; In a time switch, a frame, a cylinder of non-conducting material, rotatably mounted in said frame, a sleeve of conducting mameer@ the length of said cylinder and adapted tol` normally rest upon the said sleeve, and to drop into said sleeve openings by gravity When the cylinder is revolved, stationary brush `mounted on the frame and in continuous contact with the sleeve, conductor Y means connecting said brushes anda source of' electricity and current consuming device, and means for rotating' said cylinder to cause the circuit Vto be opened and closed through the coaction of the adjustable brush 'and the openings insaid sleeve and with the non-conductive cylinder.V

3. En a time switch, an 'insulated frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a cylinder of non-conductingmaterial mounted on said shaft, and in said frame, a time scaleV on said frame` adjacent said cylinder, a metalsleeve surrounding said cylinder for a portion of its length leaving a portion of said cylinder exposed and constituting a continuous neutral Zone, an adjustable brush slidably mounted on said frame to move in said frame acrossthe length of said cylinder, a stationary brush in permanent Contact With said metal sleeve, conductor means connecting said brushes with a source of electricity and a current consuming device, and lever means connected withV the said shafts for manually returning the cyl-inder to neutral.

e. In an electric time switch, a horizontal cylinder of non-conducting material rotatably supported 'in an insulated lfra-me, a metal sleeve covering said cylinder from one end and terminating short of the other end whereby to define a continuous annular neutra-l zone on the cylinder, said sleeve having a horizontal series of circuinferentially arranged openings therethrough and' in staggered relation, a bar adjacent said4 rotatable cylinder provided Vwith graduations representing divisions of time, a movable brush slidably mounted with respect to said graduated bar and adapted to cooperate with said openings in the sleeve and the neutralzone of the cylinder, a stationary brush incon-Y stant contact With said sleeve, and conductor means connecting said brushes and a current consuming device. 

